OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.
(FROM OUK OWN 80BIUSSPONDENT.) Melbourne, August 18. At the date o£ my last letter, the new Graham-Berry administration had been sworn in, and the Kerferd Ministry had been quietly but effectually disposed of. Since the announcement of the formation of the new Cabinet in Parliament, rumor has been excessively busy in providing a policy for it, and many have been the predictions indulged in by opposing sections of the Press. On Monday last, however, a policy, or so much of it as has been already framed, was enunciated at ■ Geelong by Mr. Berry, in his address to his constituents. Although Mr. Berry met with unequivocal applause and approval at Geelong, he seems to have been beguiled into the belief that the voice of Geelong is the voice of the colony—an error of a very serious nature if persisted in. If Mr. Service's Budget was crude, ill-digested, and "unsuitable for the country, to all of which allegations it is open, that of Mr. Graham Berry is equally crude, more vague, and worse suited to meet the commercial crisis which is impending. Mr. Berry professes to be an extreme Protectionist, and is so in all sincerity ; he also claims to be an advanced " Liberal," but this proposed liberality is to be manifested, it appears, in despoiling the wealthy classes of some of their hard-earned coin, for the benefit of his "liberal'' followers and supporters. He will rctmit all duties which are not of a protective character, but are simple restrictions on trade, on condition that he may replenish the Treasury for the amount thus lost, by taxing the largest land proprietors. The "free breakfast table" for which the laboring classes aro clamoring, is to be provided by Mr. Berry at the expense of tho squatters and landowners only. The proposal is not a novel one, and commends itself to the public mind at once for its simplicity and the sympathy they manifest for it. Mr. Berry's proposition is to raise about £300,000, i.e., the estimated deficiency in tho j revenue for 1875, from a land tax, and then to I go into recess with |his colleages, to prepare a
policy and measures for the future. One of his cardinal points, however, is the reform of the Upper House, which, in the hands of Berry and Co., aided by the exertions of Mr. Higinbotham, who is mad on that point, must inevitably lead to a repetition of the " deadlock" with which Sir James McCulloch once afflicted us. There is a good deal of speculation as to whether the Ministry will not be summarily ejected from office on the reassembling of Parliament, and many incline to the opinion that such a course will be tried. Ido not, however, share such a belief, nor do I believe it would be for the interests of the community to pursue such a course. At present there is a chance for the reorganisation of the free trade party in front of the phalanx of extreme protectionists. Never, was there a better opportunity afforded for the formation of the two great contending parties in the State ; never was there such an opportunity for a fair and final trial of strength. The Argus and the free-trade journals affect to believe that free traders are in a majority in the country ; but I am satisfied, though a thoroughgoing free trader myself, that such is not the case, and that an appeal to the country on the distinct issue of a protectionist 01 free-trade policy would result in the return of a considerable majority of members of the protectionist persuasion. And the reason for this is obvious: mining, pastoral, and even agricultural pursuits arc failing rapidly. One-half of the miners are unemployed, or are working at starvation point, and they naturally ask themselves what is to become of their children if there are no factories ? They do not look or reflect beyond this point, and they will plump for protection, because whether it be a system of what is termed "legalised robbery" or " spoliation," whether it produces present increased taxation, it at all events holds out the bait of future employment and future reduction of prices as against the present sacrifice. The Argus, by its crazy advocacy of free trade, its wanton insults to those who differ from it in their conclusions, and its exclusive devotion to the interests of the wealthy classes, has alienated many free traders from their ranks, and has produced an unwholesome reaction in favor of protection that it will probably take years to counteract. You will be sorry to hear of the death of that veteran comedian, Mr. John Dunn, who fell down dead in Lygon-street last night. He had been for some time engaged in dictating his autobiography to Mr. Marcus Clark, his son-in-law, by whom the .interesting volume was to be edited. In theatrical matters we have the "Williamsons, at the Opera House, in their usual role of characters—" Struck Oil," "The Shaughraun," "Kip Van Winkle," and the " Chinese Question." The Tie Murska concerts have drawn the greatest audiences which have ever assembled to do honor to singing visitors. No description can truthfully describe the wonderful ability and extraordinary range of voice displayed by this talented queen of song. The critics have used up all their superlatives, and are at a loss now to find sufficiently encomiastic terms to describe her performances. Madame Ristori and her company are expected to arrive during the ensuing week, and preparations are being made to give her a grand reception. ThelntercolonialExhibition is fast approaching completion. Large numbers of exhibits are daily arriving, the most interesting being those brought by the Japanese Commissioners, which are being unpacked and put in position. Their sculpture and painting will rather astonish Europeans. I wrote you some time since respecting the newly-invented boat -by Mr. P. Stephen, which, after repeated trials in the bay, started on a voyage to Sydney. News has arrived of her haying reached Wilson's Promontory all right, after experiencing very severe weather in the Strait. Her crew, which consists of the two Leggetts, father and son, express themselves as being thoroughly satisfied with her sea-going qualities and her adaptability to the saving of life at sea. When you consider that the boat is only a cockleshell that you can carry on your shoulder, it is .certain that as much merit is due to the T4eggetts as to Captain Boyton, who crossed the English Channel in his peculiar floating dress. A terrible murder has taken place at Frank - ston, a small village near Melbourne, in which a publican named Henry Howard first killed his paramour, Elizabeth Wright, by stabbing her deliberately with a butcher's knife which he had sharpened for the purpose, and slaying a barman named Henry Harman with the same • implement. After committing this double murder, the scoundrel sat coolly down by the. dead woman and awaited the arrival of the police. When informed of his deeds and questioned as to his motives, he replied that he came of a race that never allowed an insult to remain unavenged, even if it brought them to the gallows, where it will undoubtedly bring him. There has been considerable commotion among the ultra-Sabbatarians in regard to the action of the Town Hall Committee in leasing the hall to the tragedian, Mr. Eairclough, for sacred recitals on Sunday evenings. Every effort was made to stop the performanpe ; but the fact that there was so much opposition to the entertainment acted as an advertisement, and upwards of 4000 people assembled to hear the recitals, and Mr. Hill again playing. The matter is now to be brought before the law courts by the Sabbath Observance Society ; in the meantime the recitals are advertised to be continued every Sunday. Trade of all kinds is very quiet, owing to the uncertainty which prevails respecting the tariff and the new proposals of the Government. Failures are spoken of and whispered in regard to firms that have hitherto borne a sound name for solvency.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4506, 30 August 1875, Page 5
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1,339OUR MELBOURNE LETTER. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4506, 30 August 1875, Page 5
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